JONNY Wilkinson has been pulled out of his Newcastle Falcons comeback tomorrow because of a neck injury.
The club insist it is nothing to do with his midweek car accident and it is more likely to be a recurrence of a problem he has had for several years.
It seemed to have flared up when he needed two minutes of treatment during the World Cup final, but to everyone's huge relief the pain went away and he got up to kick a crucial penalty.
However, he has felt some weakness and pain during training this week and the club arranged a precautionary X-ray which revealed enough cause for concern to withdraw him from the match against Spanish club VRAC Valladolid.
As the Falcons are already leading the European Challenge Cup tie 71-10 after the away leg, they have no need to risk further damage to their prize asset, especially as he has to make his third trip of the week to London for the Sports Personality of the Year award.
But it's a blow to the thousands of extra fans who are turning up for the 1pm kick-off, with the club having sold 7,000 tickets for a match which would normally attract little more than 2,000.
Wilkinson is to have a scan today to determine whether he needs treatment. Rest has usually done the trick in the past, but there has always been the fear that the ferocity of his tackling would exacerbate the problem.
He will also miss England's match next Saturday against New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham, with his first Zurich Premiership appearance of the season coming against Northampton on Sunday, December 28. Kingston Park is already guaranteed another 10,000 capacity crowd for that match.
A spokesman for the Falcons said: "Obviously the club will do nothing to put any player at risk from an injury and we feel this is the best course of action. It was nothing to do with the car accident."
Jonny's absence will also be a disappointment to the Spanish visitors, especially their fly half Paco Mahamud, a 30-year-old bank clerk who has been capped seven times by Spain.
Although he speaks little English, he had vowed to learn the words "exchange" and "shirt", even though giving his own shirt to Jonny would mean having to buy his own replacement.
However, he will not go home empty-handed as Falcons' owner Dave Thompson has promised that a No 10 shirt signed by Wilkinson and personalised to Paco will be presented to him.
"The hospitality we received over there was second to none," said Thompson. "It's nice to know that the shirt will have a place of honour in their superb clubhouse."
Mark Wilkinson, Jonny's elder brother, will again be at centre after scoring two tries in Spain and Dave Walder, who was to have been on the bench, will continue at fly half with Phil Godman providing cover.
Scotland lock Stuart Grimes and South African back row man Warren Britz continue to be rested, with Garath Archer teaming up with Mark Andrews at lock and Jon Dunbar continuing at open side.
Darlington Mowden Park have rung the changes for their National Three North match at home to Kendal today.
Chris Machin, an ex-Thurrock player who joined the club two months ago, makes his first start at scrum half, while Ian Keeligan, Chris Strong, Jon Dye and Richard Arnold come into the pack.
Tasi Tuhana, Dave Sinclair and Luke Monument, who all started last week, drop to the bench, while flanker Jonny Boatman will play in the Durham Second Teams Cup tie at home to Darlington.
Dye will partner Ian Robinson at lock and can stake his claim for a lengthy run as Kelekolio Paino has been ruled out for 12 weeks. The big Tongan needs extensive rehabilitation on his knee.
With Mark Bedworth and Gareth Kerr both recovering from last week's injuries, Martyn Bray replaces Chris Blacklock at inside centre in the only other change.
Mowden piled 70 points on Kendal in the opening match of the season in the Powergen Cup, but the visitors are only one place below them in the table on the same number of points.
Darlington look like being without a fly half for several weeks as they prepare for a difficult run starting with today's trip to unbeaten leaders Halifax.
Skipper Paul Lee had 24 stitches in an ear wound after last week's win against Tynedale and Dave Haswell developed a huge swelling after suffering a dead leg and spent three nights in hospital.
Haswell, who deputised impressively at fly half when Lee was out for two weeks last month, was replaced at centre late in last week's game by his brother Graham.
This time Lee's brother, Craig, will switch from full back to fill the gap at No 10 and with Tosh McIntee unavailable Mark Butler moves from wing to centre.
Richard Lang comes in at full back, with Ben Snook on the wing and Matt Dilworth is at blind side as Andrew Carphin is injured again.
Blaydon also have problems in the backs for the visit of Tynedale. Andy Kahn is definitely out and Peter Kilburn is doubtful, so Director of Rugby Nick Gandy will play at centre.
Hooker Matt Hall has declared himself fit and lock James Houghton will return after missing last week's narrow defeat at Kendal.
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